Fire and burglar proof safe



(Mod'eL) N. HUETTER.

FIRE AND BURGLAR PROOF SAFE.

Patented Dec. 5, 1882..

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UNITED STATES PATENT Enron.

NICHOLAS HUETTER, OF KENOSHA, YVISOONSIN.

FIRE AND BURGLAR PROOF SAFE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 268,406, dated December5, 1882.

Application filed April 5, 1881.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NICHOLAS HUETTER, of Kenosha, in the county ofKenosha and State of Wisconsin, have invented a certain new and usefulImprovementin Fire and Burglar Proof Safes,'of which the following is aspecification.

The object I have in viewis such an improvement upon the concealed safehaving exterior locking mechanism, for which a patent was granted to meSeptember 7 1880, that the same will also be fire-proof; and myinvention conv sists in the peculiar construction of the safe for thispurpose, as fully hereinafter explained.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, Figure 1 is a topview of the safe and lockin g mechanism removed from position, the coverof the safe being partly broken away; and Fig. 2, a vertical section ofthe safe and locking mechanism, showing the position of the parts whenconcealed in the floor of an apartment.

Like letters denote corresponding parts in both figures.

A is the exterior case of the safe, which is a rectangular box of sheetmetal, and has its top closed by a cover, B, hinged at one end to suchoutside case, and provided at its other end with one or twolocking-staples, a, which engage with the beveled heads of theslidingspring-latches b of the locking mechanism. This lockin gmechanismis located outside of the safe, and is constructed as shown anddescribed in my former patent, the heads of the latches projectingthrough the exterior case, A.

The box A is provided near its ends with lateralpartitions G O, whichare of sheet metal and extend across the box A, being riveted or boltedto the sides of such box. These end partitions divide ofi. spaces, inone of which the hinged end of the cover works, and in the other thelockingstaples and latches.

Between the partitions O O'is placed a metal box, D, not as deep as thebox A, and having an open top, and provided with crossed spacing-stripsc on its bottom, which raise it a certain distance above the bottom ofthe exterior box, A, and extend beyond its sides and ends, so as to keepit an equal distance all around Model.)

off from the surrounding shell. A space, E, is thus left around thesides and under the bottom of the box D, which space is filled with asuitable non-conducting material.

Within the box D is placed a smaller metal box, F,'which is raised byspacing-strips at above the bottom of the box 1), and has also side andend spacing-strips, e. The space G around the sides and under the box Fis filled with a non-conducting material. The box F has an open top,which is on a level with the top of the surrounding box D, and the twofilled spaces E G 'are covered by aplate, f,

which is secured to lugs g on the upper edge,

of the box D.

The cover B has secured to its under side a shallow box or case, H,which is also filled with non-conducting material, and rests, when thecover is closed, on the plates f, closing the space within the box F.

In the box- F is placed removablya metal box, I, in which the valuablesare to berkept. This box has a cover, h, of its own, which has a ring,o, by which the box I can be lifted out of the safe. This removable boxI'also has spacing-strips k, which keep it an equal distance out ofcontact with the surrounding box F, so as to leave an air-space entirelyaround said box.

A safe made in this manner is fire-proof, and is simple and cheap inconstruction. 'No provision having to be made for the locking mechanismwithin the safe, some space is gained, and the parts can be made muchsimplerin construction.

The safe and locking mechanism can be concealed anywhere in the floor orwall. I prefer to place them in the floor and above the ceiling of theroom below. K is the floor, and L the ceiling. The floor K is cut awayto make room for the safe, and the safe-cover is on line with the uppersurface of the floor. The carpet M covers the safe and hides it fromsight.

The stud l of the lock mechanism projects partly through a hole, m, inthe floor, which hole is also covered by the carpet. The position ofthis hole will be known to those in possession of the secret by thepattern of the carpet.

The stud loan be forced downwardly and the I and open top, with theplate f, secured to box to safe-cover unlocked by sticking a pin throughD, and extending across the tops of boxes D the carpet. and F, and coverB, having box or case H on What I claim as my invention is its underside, all substantially as and for the 5 In a concealed safe havingexterior locking purpose set forth.

mechanism, the combination of exterior shell, NICHOLAS HUETTER. A,having transverse end partitions, G 0, box Witnesses: D, having crossedspacing-strips c at its bot- I E. G. TIMME, tom, and box F, havingspacing-strips d and e, L. N. DE DIEMAR.

